Przewalski’s Horse: A Story of Survival

[The Straight Story]

Przewalski’s Horse: A Story of Survival

Also known as the Takhi or the Mongolian wild horse, the Przewalski’s horse is the last true species of wild horse on Earth. Native of the steppes of China and Mongolia, the species once thrived in a territory extending over Central Asia and parts of Europe (from Russia to Germany). Despite its uniqueness, the Przewalski’s horse is endangered, with only 1,500 individuals remaining today, most of those in captivity. Yet researchers all over the world have tried their best to save this beautiful horse.

There are many wild horses running wild even today; we are all familiar with mustangs, for example – but they are simply the offspring of domesticated animals. In contrast, the Przewalski’s horse was always a wild animal, and so it has remained to this day. (One possible explanation for the incompatibility of this wild horse with the life of a domesticated animal is the fact that it has two chromosomes more than the horses with which we are more familiar.)

Fighting for the Survival of the Przewalski’s horse

Considering what this small, stocky horse has faced, it is a wonder that it has not become extinct. The reasons for its decline, which begun in the 19th century, vary. The Przewalski's horse has a slow rate of reproduction – the mare gives birth to a single foal after a pregnancy period that lasts one year – but more significant was its interaction with humans and their domesticated horses. For many years, Przewalski’s horses interbred with domesticated horses, which led to the destruction of their own genetic heritage.

In addition, Przewalski’s horses suffered from excessive hunting and the loss of their habitat – again, a result of human interference. The result of all this was heartbreaking. During the 20thcentury, their number was reduced to a few individuals, and in 1969 the last horse was seen in its natural environment, with the species soon after declared extinct in the wild.



http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/conservation/news-przewalski%E2%80%99s-horse-story-survival

[RZM]

1. Thanks for this

I've always loved zoology. I especially love reading about extinct megafauna and forays into that era led me to learn about this animal. While I don't know much about them, I do find it interesting that their mane sticks straight up and looks similar to that of a zebra. I suspect that 'laid down' manes are a product of domestication, as are 'laid down' (i.e. floppy) ears on dogs.

I remember reading about a Soviet zoologist who attempted to domesticate foxes over a period of decades by breeding the most docile specimens over each generation. One change he noticed over the generations was that their ears started laying down.

[The Straight Story]

2. Have any sites you recommend for reading up zoology?

Of course I can google, but prefer sites with references :)

[RZM]

4. Unfortunately not

I generally use the google and wikipedia myself. I'm pretty 'armchair' when it comes to this stuff. Usually I read about this kind of thing in bed on my phone when I can't sleep.

Of course there are always the academic journal search engines (JSTOR, etc.). If you have access to any of those I'm sure there are plenty of academic/scientific journals that deal with this kind of thing. You could always get lucky and find something good in the wikipedia citations as well.

Happy hunting!

[dixiegrrrrl]

5. There is..or was..a youtube about that. it was fascinating.

russian scientist did the experiment. The domesticated foxes went thru some physical changes, in just a few generations.

[RZM]

7. Haven't seen that. I'll check it out

I'd be interested because I've never actually seen any images of those foxes. I think I remember that aside from the ears, they also started to develop white splotches in their coats as well.

Thanks for the tip! :)

[The Straight Story]

9. Here is one link: The Silver Fox Experiment

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbcwDXhugjw&feature=related

[xchrom]

3. recommend

[Tuesday Afternoon]

6. want!

:loveya:

thanks for the link :)

[hunter]

8. The Przewalski’s horses around Chernobyl are apparantly being lost to poachers...

"A readily available supply of horsemeat is tempting for people” -- Professor Tim Mousseau. University of South Carolina

http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/14277058

It's sad to imagine the kind of desperation, ignorance, and/or corruption that would lead people to poach radioactive endangered horses.